The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will on Thursday, 18 June 2026, conduct a public hearing at the Southern Sun hotel, OR Tambo International Airport, Kempton Park in Johannesburg. The public hearing will be conducted to monitor the use of all official indigenous languages within the legal profession in South Africa. The Legal Practice Council (LPC) will be the primary respondent, with supplementary submissions from the Black Lawyers Association, National Democratic Lawyers Association, and Bar Council of South Africa.
The hearing follows a subpoena issued by PanSALB against the Legal Practice Council concerning the continued use of English as the sole language of admission examinations for candidates seeking admission as attorneys, conveyancers, and Notaries. PanSALB is concerned that such a practice may undermine the constitutional imperative to promote multilingualism and the equal status of all official languages.
The hearing provides an important gate the extent to which South Africa’s legal profession reflects the country’s linguistic diversity and to explore practical measures to advance the use of indigenous languages within the legal profession to promote access to justice. The hearing aims to promote other official languages to ensure that they enjoy parity of esteem as required by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Members of the media are invited to attend the public hearing as follows:
Date : Thursday, 18 June 2026
Venue : Southern Sun Hotel, OR Tambo International Airport, Kempton Park in Johannesburg
Time : 09h00-14h00
RSVP: Mr Siphiwe Mabasa, siphiwe@pansalb.org
Media Enquiries: Ntombentle Huluhulu (Head: Marketing and Communication) Mobile: 061 581 5216
